2026 Fantasy Football: Week 3 Waiver Wire Winners

Heading into Week 3, we have plenty of players with injury issues and also players underperforming. The waiver wire will be important for managers to fill team needs and keep pushing. Activity wins leagues. Below are players to consider picking up off the waiver wire who are rostered in 50% or less of most platforms.

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Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 3

Tyler Shough (QB, Saints)

Tyler Shough was a Top-10 Fantasy quarterback while starting as a rookie last season. Shough opened up 2026 with scores of 23.2, then 22.4 Fantasy Points in the last two weeks. His 410/252 passing yards and five total touchdowns in these games are huge upside. The volume has been big too, with 56 passing attempts and four carries in Week 1, then 34 attempts with nine carries in Week 2. The connection to Chris Olave is great, and at some point this year he will get rookie Jordyn Tyson back.

Jonah Coleman (RB, Broncos)

RJ Harvey was inactive in Week 2 with a hamstring injury, and JK Dobbins also exited Week 2 with a hamstring injury. Jonah Coleman stepped up in their absences, rushing 10 times for 39 yards and a touchdown, and also catching three balls for 19 yards, which was 14.8 Fantasy Points. That was solid Fantasy production for the rookie, who Sean Payton spoke highly of during preseason, and has the tools to be an effective dual-threat back, especially with a bigger potential opportunity.

Alvin Kamara (RB, Saints)

Alvin Kamara returned to action in Week 2 after missing Week 1, and out-touched Travis Etienne Jr. 14 to 10. Kamara was highly inefficient as both a rusher and a receiver, but that instant volume is an important note to make. Tyler Shough has attempted 56/34 passes over the last two weeks, so if Kamara secures the pass-catching role in that backfield, there can be better days ahead for Fantasy Football, as he has historically had that upside.

Denzel Boston (WR, Browns)

Denzel Boston has opened up with solid FLEX production across two weeks. The rookie finished with two receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 for 13.9 Fantasy Points. Then in Week 2, Boston caught five balls for 95 yards and a touchdown for 20.5 Fantasy Points. Consistent touchdown upside with an uptick in usage, with seven targets in Week 2. Boston looks like the team’s WR1, as of today.

Dalton Schultz (TE, Texans)

With Jayden Higgins out for the season and Nico Collins out for Week 2 with an injury, it was Dalton Schultz who stepped up big for CJ Stroud. Schultz caught 12 of his 14 targets for 140 yards, which was 26.0 Fantasy Points. Massive upside was on display for the veteran, who also earned a solid eight targets in Week 1. We have historically seen plenty from this Stroud-to-Schultz connection in the past, and useful tight ends are not easy to find in the Fantasy Football world consistently.

Rashod Bateman (WR, Ravens)

Rashod Bateman filled the WR1 role for Baltimore great in Week 2 with Zay Flowers out, catching seven of his nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown. 21.8 Fantasy Points. If Zay continues to miss time, Bateman has plenty of FLEX appeal, especially in game scripts where Lamar Jackson is throwing 30+ times, like Week 2. Even when Flowers comes back, Bateman can earn the #2 target role.

Keon Coleman (WR, Bills)

DJ Moore suffered an AC joint sprain in Week 2, so his timeline should be monitored closely. Keon Coleman stepped up big for Josh Allen in DJM’s absence, catching all six targets for 63 yards, which was 12.3 Fantasy Points. Yes, we have seen the random Coleman spike weeks, but we have also seen players grow over time and improve. Coleman could be the WR1 while Moore is out.

Tank Bigsby (RB, Eagles)

Saquon Barkley is set to undergo some further testing for the stinger he suffered in Week 2, which we will need to monitor. Tank Bigsby stepped up in that game, rushing 13 times for 33 yards and a touchdown with two receptions for five yards. Not super high efficiency numbers there, but the volume is nice, and Bigsby found the end zone. Should Barkley miss time, Bigsby will be the lead back in a good offense with Will Shipley operating as the RB2.

Emmett Johnson (RB, Chiefs)

Emmett Johnson has flashed his dual-threat explosiveness in both weeks so far. 2 catches for 44 yards in Week 1, two catches for 20 yards in Week 2, and 2 rushing attempts for 15 yards in Week 2 are all examples. The rookie’s touches have varied greatly (10 vs. four) due to game script, but he is clearly one of the best handcuffs to roster for Fantasy Football. Especially after seeing the 30-touch volume Kenneth Walker III just had in Week 2.

Emanuel Wilson (RB, Seahawks)

Emanuel Wilson finished Week 2 with 21 rushing attempts for 92 yards (4.4 YPA), with the context being rookie Jadarian Price’s fourth-quarter exit with a chest injury. Price’s X-ray came back negative, but should Price miss any time it is clearly Wilson over George Holani based on the usage in Week 2. If Price misses time, Wilson gets a big role in a good offense that likes to run, and if Price does not miss time, he is a stash candidate as a handcuff for the same reason.

Bryce Young (QB, Panthers)

One big week could be a fluke, but back-to-back solid Fantasy Football weeks look like a pattern. Young has scored 31.4 and then 24.1 Fantasy Points the last two weeks. In each of those games, he threw for three touchdowns, he rushed for a touchdown in Week 1, and produced 361/287 passing yards. Upside flashes in both weeks.

Antonio Williams (WR, Commanders)

Antonio Williams led the Commanders in receiving yards in Week 1 with 64, and added a touchdown for a solid 16.4 Fantasy Points. Williams only caught three of four targets in Week 2 for 24 yards, and nearly completed a touchdown pass on a trick play in the end zone. Encouraging is the rookie’s snap percentage jump from 37% to 49% across a week. Jayden Daniels is likely set to miss time, but I love the talent, and Williams’ role can continue growing in Washington.

Tre Tucker (WR, Raiders)

After a quiet Week 1, Tre Tucker stepped up big in Week 2 with five catches on seven targets for 119 yards and a touchdown for 22.9 Fantasy Points. Tucker had a massive Fantasy week in 2025 that turned heads, with a few other slightly serviceable FLEX weeks that season. Week 2 could be a sign of more FLEX potential, especially if Brock Bowers misses more time, with improved quarterback play in 2026.

Darren Waller (TE, Panthers)

Darren Waller caught all three targets in Week 2 for 33 yards and scored on two of those catches, totaling 18.3 Fantasy Points. Waller scored in Week 1 as well, but the touchdown was called back for a flag. We would like to see the target total increase, but there is clear touchdown upside attached to Waller with an improved Bryce Young.

Adonai Mitchell (WR, Jets)

Adonai Mitchell finished Week 1 with three receptions for 60 yards, showing his big-play ability with 20 yards per catch that game. Mitchell then caught six balls for 63 yards in Week 2 off of a team-leading 12 targets. That sort of volume is important to note, especially with Omar Cooper Jr. on the IR and Kenyon Sadiq still not fully involved in the offense. 60+ yards in back-to-back weeks is solid production to note as well.

Malik Washington (WR, Dolphins)

Malik Washington caught four balls for 43 yards and rushed once for four yards in Week 2. Washington caught three balls for 53 yards in Week 1. So there has been some decent yardage production on what Washington has worked with. Washington has also earned 13 targets across two weeks, and now rookie Caleb Douglas is dealing with an ankle injury to monitor. Washington’s upside may be limited, but his role looks sticky in Miami for deeper leagues.

Braelon Allen (RB, Jets)

Braelon Allen rushed five times for a mediocre seven yards in Week 2, with an eight-yard catch, but he did punch in a touchdown. Allen rushed 10 times for a more efficient 40 yards in Week 1, and had a touchdown called back that game on a 20+ yard rush due to a flag. Allen is a good handcuff to stash, with some stand-alone touchdown upside.

Kaleb Johnson (RB, Packers)

After playing only a special-teams role in Week 1, Kaleb Johnson rushed eight times for 32 yards in Week 2. Johnson logged more rushing attempts and equal touches to MarShawn Lloyd, who has had a series of injury issues over time. Johnson could be a smart stash in the event he continues to eat into the RB1 role, or falls into it for Green Bay.

Kalif Raymond (WR, Bears)

Deeper league suggestion here, but Kalif Raymond has quietly looked like the Bears’ WR1 through two weeks. This will not stick, but he has been targeted 14 times and produced 84/40 yards in the last two games. Raymond has a history with Ben Johnson, who will keep him in the playbook. Keep an eye on the Caleb Williams injury news.

Keep an eye on Malachi Fields, the rookie Giants wide receiver, in the Monday Night Football matchup.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!